MAM
Emery to succeed Proctor as CEO Mindshare Worldwide
MUMBAI: Nick Emery will be taking over as Mindshare Worldwide CEO, overseeing operations across 112 countries including India.
Emery succeeds Domonic Proctor who has been elevated to the new position of GroupM president.
Emery currently leads Worldwide strategy, client service and product development for Mindshare and is also the chief strategy officer for GroupM worldwide.
Mindshare has over 5,000 employees and billings in excess of $27.8 billion.
Emery and Proctor have been partners since working together to establish Mindshare as a global network in 1997.Emery will now focus solely on Mindshare and its clients.
The focus of the company will remain on innovation, data and technology, preserving Mindshare‘s global network.
The announcement was made by GroupM Global CEO Irwin Gotlieb who has been promoted to the position of GroupM chairman. Proctor will continue to report to Gotlieb.
On his new role Emery said, “I‘m delighted to be taking on this role at this exciting time in the agency‘s evolution. Mindshare‘s agenda continues to focus on innovation, technology and added value to our clients and we want to build on the successes of recent years. The success of Mindshare has always been built upon our network, teamwork and willingness to embrace change. We will continue to increase investment in a diverse and talented team across a global network that is second to none. We have created an organisation with strong management and our work has been recognized with a string of prestigious awards during the last 12 months. We‘re confident that our clients and staff will prosper as a consequence of these changes – our rate of growth and the complexity of our business require that we constantly evolve.”
Proctor added, “I am delighted that Nick has agreed to take over. Nobody has done more than him to help build Mindshare and I know that the agency will go from strength to strength under his leadership.”
Brands
Kwality Wall’s reports standalone losses following strategic HUL demerger
Ice cream major faces Rs 64 crore Ebitda loss amid commodity inflation and muted Q3 sales
MUMBAI: Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited (KWIL) has released its first set of financial results as a standalone entity, revealing a challenging start to its independent journey. Following its successful demerger from Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on 1st December 2025 and its subsequent listing on 16th February 2026, the company is navigating a transition period marked by structural changes and high input costs.
For the quarter ended 31st December 2025, the company reported revenue of Rs 222 crores. Despite the revenue base, the bottom line was impacted by several factors, resulting in an Ebitda loss of Rs 64.2 crores. When calculated on a Pre-IND AS 116 basis, the Ebitda loss stood at Rs 83.8 crores.
Organic Sales Growth (OSG) declined by 6.5 per cent year-on-year during the quarter. Volume growth, however, saw a marginal increase of 1.2 per cent. The company reported a gross margin of 41.5 per cent. Additionally, exceptional expenses amounting to Rs 94 crores were recorded, primarily linked to non-recurring costs during the transition phase.
Performance across portfolios and channels was mixed. Within the impulse portfolio, brands such as Magnum and Cornetto recorded mid-single digit volume growth, indicating steady demand in on-the-go consumption. However, the in-home portfolio, which includes take-home packs, experienced muted consumption. The company is planning a relaunch of this category with improved offerings ahead of the 2026 season.
Quick commerce (Q-Com) continued to emerge as a strong growth driver, delivering robust double-digit growth during the quarter. Meanwhile, the company also expanded its physical distribution network by increasing the number of company-owned cabinets across markets.
Margin pressure during the quarter was driven by a combination of one-off factors and broader cost inflation. Gross margins were impacted by around 600 basis points due to trade investments made for stock liquidation. Additionally, cocoa price inflation contributed to another 400 basis points of pressure on margins.
Deputy managing director Chitrank Goel attributed the muted performance partly to prolonged monsoons and transitional challenges linked to the GST framework. Operating expenses also increased as the company invested in establishing its standalone supply chain, operational systems and corporate infrastructure following the demerger.
Looking ahead, the management remains focused on a volume-driven growth strategy. To restore profitability, the company has initiated a cost productivity programme aimed at reducing non-consumer-facing costs. It is also working on building regional manufacturing networks to optimise logistics expenses and improve operational efficiency.
The commodity outlook for the near term remains mixed. Dairy prices are expected to remain firm due to tight supply conditions and rising fodder costs. Sugar prices may also move higher following increases in the Minimum Selling Price (MSP). While cocoa prices have moderated recently, currency depreciation has offset some of the potential cost relief for the company.
